Lamp shade frame



8, 1959 E. T. WILLIAMS 2,900,496

LAMP SHADE FRAME Filed March 1, 1956 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EVA/v 7: him/4 5 Rik/$2M ATTORNEY" E. T. WiLLlAMS LAMP SHADE FRAME Aug. 18, 1959 2 t fi RA Y e 6 0 OM E m 0 77, 2 mm W 8 A o I E W o m WK M IT. A .m 3 VY Filed March 1, 1956 E. T. WILLIAMS Aug. 18, 1959 LAMP SHADE FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 1, 1956 INVENTOR [WIN 7' MAL/4M8 aimwmy ATTORNEY the mechanism of the lacing machine.

LAMP SHADE FRAME Evan T. Williams, Westfield, NJ.

Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,815

13 Claims. (Cl. 240-138) This invention relates to lamp shade frames, and more particularly to frames of this character adapted to be mounted on a lamp to support a band of sheet material for diffusing or shading the light rays.

Heretofore-such lamp shade frames have been constructed of concentric rings, and struts spaced around and connecting the rings. One of the concentric rings is adapted to abut and be supported by the lamp, and the other of the concentric rings is adapted tosupport the band of sheet material constituting the lamp shade.

The abutment ring is constructed in several different forms, for attachment to different parts of the lamp. When the lamp base is provided with a harp which extends up on both sides of the lamp bulb to a top stud for receiving a finial. the lamp shade abutment ring is small and heavy, to fit over the stud and be clamped thereon by the finial.

When the lamp base has a lamp socket provided with an externally threaded rim, the shade abutment ring is internally threaded to be screwed onto the lamp socket rim. When the shade is to engage the glass of the lamp bulb, the shade abutment ring is provided with clamping rings to receive the lamp bulb therebetween. When the lamp base is provided with a glass chimney, the abutment ring is of plain wire of a diameter to engage the upper tapered part of the lamp chimney.

This diversity in the types of abutment rings renders it necessary for the dealer to keep in stock a large number of shades for each shape or pattern, one complete shade for each type of lamp support. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to.pro

nited States Patent vide interchangeable abutment rings whereby a shade of a selected shape and pattern can be adapted to any desired lamp support. Another object is to provide a simple, convenient and inexpensive clamp for securing the selected abutment ring to the selected lamp shade supporting ring. Another object is to provide interchangeable structure which can be interchanged without the use of tools, such as wrenches and screwdrivers.

With the lamp shades heretofore provided, the frames hold the shade at a fixed height, which may not be satisfactory for the lamp base which it is to be supported upon. This is particularly true of the chimney supported type, which generally has the abutment ring spaced below the shade ring for a fixed drop of about one inch. It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a lamp shade in which the shade ring is adjustable in height with respect to the abutment ring.

The sheet material of which the lamp shade is constructed is frequently secured to the shade ring by lacing, and machines have been developed to accomplish this lacing at high speed. However, the struts or spokes of the spider which support the shade ring from the abutment ring are in the way of, and interfere with It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide in: terchangeable abutment rings and spiders detachably ICC connected directly to the shade rim, so that when detached the shade rim is left smooth with no projections to interfere with the lacing mechanism.

Another object is to provide an improved wire loop clamp for the abutment ring to engage and grip a lamp bulb.

According to the present invention the shade ring is manufactured as a complete unit, and the abutment ring and strut portions constructed as a separate unit, and means are provided for selectively and interchangeably attaching the shade ring to the strut portions of the abutment ring. Preferably the struts connecting the concentric rings comprise a set of abutment ring portions and a set of supported ring portions fixed to their respective rings and extending toward each other in overlapping relation, and sheet metal connectors having tubular portions carried by the free ends of one set and provided with sockets receiving the free ends of the other set. Preferably the connectors comprise clips of sheet metal having central tubular portions permanently secured to the free ends of one set, said clips having side flanges forming spring sockets adapted to receive the overlapping free ends of the other set.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp having a shade mounted thereon by means of a frame according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the supported or shade ring having strut portions extending inward therefrom and carrying connectors for a spider;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spider for the ring shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an assembly of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate inteinally threaded ring form of spider, interchangeable with Fig. 3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective exploded view of the connector or clamp shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 7 is a section through the connector or clip shown in Fig. 6 but with the parts in assembled position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a height adjustable shade holder frame for mounting on a base having an open topped reflector;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, with the'parts therebeyond shown in elevation;

Fig; 10 is a detail ofa clamp connection from the spider to a smooth or spokeless rim; v

Fig. 11 is a detail front elevation of an improved wire loop clamp for an abutment ring to grip a lamp bulb;

Fig. 12 is an end view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan taken along the line 1313 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is an inverted plan taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is an exploded view of a modified form of connector or clamp;

Fig. 16 is an assembly section taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an exploded view of a further modified form of clamp or connector;

Fig. 18 is an assembly section taken along the line 18'18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a height adjustable frame for a chimney lamp shade; 4

Fig. 20 is an elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an assembled perspective view of a modification of Fig. 6;

Fig. 22 is a similar view of a further modification of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 23 is an assembled section of the structures of Figs. 1 and 8.

The lamp shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base B and a shade S. The base B is provided with a harp H which extends up around the lamp bulb L and terminates in a stud D. The shade S is supported by a frame which comprises a supported or shade ring R to which the sheet material of the shade is secured, and an abutment ring A which engages some portion of the lamp base B. These rings A and R are concentric and connected by struts T extending therebetween. The ring A fits over the stud D and is clamped thereon by a finial F.

According to the present invention the shade ring R is adapted to be manufactured or embodied into a unit of any desired shape, size, configuration, color or ornamentation as a complete article of manufacture, and the abutment ring A is constructed as a separate unit, with any desired structure for mounting on some portion of the lamp base B, and means are provided for selectively and interchangeably attaching the shade ring R of the manufactured shade to the struts T in portions thereof, so that the manufactured shade may be mounted on the lamp base B, regardless of the type of mounting provided thereby.

As shown in Fig. 1 the struts T comprise a set of portions connected to the shade ring R and a set of portions connected to the abutment ring A. The free ends of these sets of strut portions extend toward each other in overlapping relation and are secured together by connectors or clips C.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the supported or shade ring R comprises a substantially circular ring of solid wire, the ends of which are secured together by soldering, welding, brazing, or the like. Spaced around the ring R are a set of strut portions 10 having their outer ends permanently secured in the same manner to the ring R and having their free ends extending inwardly therefrom. In this form the strut portions 10 have the clips C respectively secured to their free ends.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the spider comprises the abutment ring A having spaced therearound a set of strut portions 12, with their inner ends permanently secured to the ring A and with their free ends extending outwardly. As shown in Fig. 4 the free ends of the abutment ring strut portions 12 are snapped into the clips C carried by the free ends of the supported or shade ring strut portions 10, forming a readily removable and interchangeable spider.

As shown in Fig. 6, the connector C comprises a tubular portion carried by the strut portion 10 and having a socket 14 adapted to receive the overlapping or underlying free end of the strut portion 12. In the form shown, the clip C comprises a central portion 15 adapted to receive, or to be wrapped around, the strut portion 10, and having side flanges forming the spring socket 14 to receive the overlapping free end of the strut portion 12 with a snap action.

Preferably the central portion 15 is oflset longitudinally with respect to the socket 14, and enlarged as at 16 to form a funnel-like guide for directing the str-ut portion 10 into the interior of the smaller end of the portion 15, with which it has a snug or wedge fit. This construction also serves to facilitate spot welding, soldering or crimping of the portion 15 to the strut portion 10, the edges of the sheet metal at the bottom of the portion 16 being left spaced apart to improve the heat transfer, and to avoid drawing temper from the spring socket 14.

The spider is secured in position by pressing the strut A portion 12 upwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6, to snap between the spring jaws of the socket 14. The spider is readily removed for interchange or 4 replacement by moving the strut portion 12 downwardly to snap the strut portion out of the spring jaws 14.

It should be noted that the clamp C may be carried by the outer ends of the spider strut portions 12 to which the clamp portion 16 may be welded, and the ring strut portions 10 may be snapped between the spring jaws 14, as shown in Fig. 21. When the clamp is carried by the spider, the struts may be all one piece, and as shown in Fig. 22, the spring jaws 14 may be disposed transversely to the portion 16, and the wire of the supporting ring R may be snapped directly into the spring jaws 14.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the abutment ring A is provided with internal threads -17, to be screwed onto the external threads of the lamp socket. The internally threaded ring is provided with strut portions 12, to be interchangeable with the form shown in Fig. 3.

When the shade frame is machine laced, the shade ring R has no projections, and the connector shown in Fig. 10 may be employed to engage the inside of the rim R and connect it by means of clamp C to the spoke 12. This connector comprises a stem 18 which is forced through theguide 16 into tight fit with the clip portion 15, the spring jaws 14 of which engage the spoke 12. The other end of the connector is flared outwardly and formed into an annular groove 19 which receives the inner surface of the shade ring R.

With this arrangement, the stem 16 is first thrust into the clip portion 15, then the groove 19 engaged with the shade ring R, after which the spoke 12 is snapped into the jaws 14.

As shown in Fig. 8, a shade mounting is provided for a lamp base having a bell shaped reflector K, as shown in Fig. 23, surrounding a lamp socket and flaring upwardly and outwardly to a large upper rim. This mounting comprises a wire ring 20 adapted to overlie and rest upon the upper rim of the reflector K. The ring 20 has strut portions 10 secured thereto in depending relation to center the ring 20 on the reflector rim. Clips C have their central portions 15 secured on the strut portions 10, the spring jaws 14 slidably receiving spoke portions 12 radiating from a center ring 22. The ring 22 may receive the stud D which receives the abutment ring- A of Fig. l and the three held together by the finial F. The height of the shade may be adjusted by sliding the portions 12 vertically in the jaws 14.

The interchangeable spider may be provided with a wire loop clamp to engage a lamp bulb L, as shown in Fig. 11. The ends of the pair of wire loops 24 are passed through a small ring 25, then spread out around the head of a stud 26, then brought inward into contact with the stem of the stud. The ends 28 of the wires and the stud are then forced as a pressure fit into the bore of the ring A or a liner sleeve therefor, and the nut 30 screwed down to clamp the parts in position. The ring A is provided with strut portions 12 to the interchangeable with the spiders shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Another provision for the machine laced shade ring having no'projections is embodied in the connector or clamp shown in Fig. 15. The spider spokes 12 are provided with a terminal socket 32. A clip comprising a strip of sheet metal has a central cylindrical portion 34 wrapped around the shade ring R, and the two flat ends 36 and 38 are brought together and inserted in the socket 32. The shade ring R may be serrated or roughened in the region where it is engaged by the tubular portion 34 to increase the bite of the clamp. The machine laced frame may also be supported by snapping the ring R into the clamp C, when the spring jaws 14 are disposed at an angle to the clamp portion -15 secured to the end of the spider strut 12.

When the shade frame is hand laced and projections are not undesirable, the form of connector shown in Figs. 17 and 18 may be employed. This form has the central portion 15 and Spring socket 14 as shown in Fig. 6, but

the central portion has a flat extension 40 which is soldered or welded to the shade ring R.

Another provision for adjustable height of the lamp shade is embodiedin the elevator form shown in Figs. 19 and 20. In this form a ring 42 of plain wire rests on the tapered portion of the lamp chimney M. Strut portions 44 spaced around the ring 42, are permanently secured thereto and extend upwardly, preferably along the taper of the chimney, and then offset to a vertical portion to which is secured the portion 15 of the clip C. The spring jaws 14 slidably receive the free ends of strut portions 46 depending from an upper ring 48 which supports the shade. By sliding the strut portions 46 vertically-in the spring jaws 14 of the clips C, the ring 48 may be raised and lowered with respect to the abutment ring 42, and frictionally held in any desired position of adjustment.

For mounting the shade on a lamp chimney, the spider shown in Fig. is employed. This spider comprises a plain ring 50 of wire of a diameter to fit the upper tapered portion of a tapered glass lamp chimney. The ring 50 has strut portions 12 secured thereto, to be interchangeable with the spiders shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 11. The ring 50 may fit down inside the ring 48 as shown in Fig. 20, for adjustable height as well as interchangeability of the spider.

I claim:

1. A frame comprising a supported ring and an abutment ring arranged in concentric relation, and struts spaced around and connecting said rings; said struts each comprising an abutment ring portion having a fixed end secured to said abutment ring and a free end extending toward said supported ring, and a supporting ring portion having a fixed end secured to said supported ring and a free end extending toward said abutment ring, the free ends of said strut portions being arranged in overlapping relation; and clips of sheet metal having central tubular portions permanently secured to the free ends of the strut portions secured to one of said rings, said clips having side flanges forming spring sockets adapted to receive the overlapping free ends of the other strut portions secured to the other of said concentric rings.

2. A frame comprising a supported ring having solid wire portions and an abutment ring arranged in concentric relation, and struts spaced around and connecting said rings; said struts having fixed ends secured to said abutment ring and free ends extending toward said supported ring; and sheet metal connectors having tubular portions carried by the free ends of said strut portions and ends flared laterally and bent back inwardly and then outwardly and formed into an annular groove adapted to receive solid wire portions of said supported ring as the sole support thereof.

3. A frame comprising a supported ring having solid wire portions, and a spider portion comprising an abutment ring with solid wire spokes having fixed ends rigidly and permanently secured to said abutment ring and free ends extending toward said supported ring; and means for detachably connecting said frame portions together comprising sheet metal clips carried by the free ends of said solid wire spokes and having spring jaws receiving said solid wire portions of said supported ring in snap action relation.

4. A frame comprising a supported ring portion, and a spider portion comprising an abutment ring with spokes having fixed ends rigidly and permanently secured to said abutment portion and free ends having sockets extending toward said supported ring; and means for detachably connecting said frame portions together comprising sheet metal clips wrapped around portions of said supported ring and having spring jaws compressed and inserted into said socket of the free ends of said spokes.

5. A frame comprising a larger supported ring and a smaller abutment ring arranged in concentric relation, and struts spaced around said smaller abutment ring and from said spider, the free ends of said strut portions being arranged in overlapping relation for a common length spaced from each of said rings; and sheet metal connectors mounted on the free ends of one of said sets of strut portions, said connectors each comprising a socket receiving the longitudinally inserted carrying free end and secured thereto, and an adjacent parallel socket having concave spring jaws engaging with a snap action the laterally inserted overlapping free end.

6. A frame comprising an upper supported ring and a lower abutment ring, and struts spaced around said upper supported ring and each having a free end depending down toward said abutment ring, and sheet metal conectors each comprising a socket rigidly and permanently secured to said lower abutment ring and an adjacent parallel socket having spring jaws longtiudinally slidably receiving the free end of said depending strut portion to effect vertical adjustment of the height of said upper supported ring above said lower abutment ring by sliding the strut portion with respect to both sockets of the connector and said lower abutment ring.

7. For use with a frame comprising an abutment ring with struts spaced therearound to form a spider in combination therewith the improvement which comprises, a pair of wire loops depending below said abutment ring to engage a lamp bulb, a stud having a threaded stem passing upward through said abutment ring and having a head therebelow, a smaller ring below said stud head, the pairs of ends of said wire loops passing upwardly .through said smaller ring and spread apart thereabove and'passing therefrom up on both sides of said stud head and then bent inwardly over the edge thereof toward the stem along and in contact with the upper side of said stud head, and a nut screwed onto said stem above said abutment ring and thereby clamping said pairs of inturned wire loop ends onto the top of said stud head.

8. For use with a lamp base having a reflector flaring upwardly and outwardly to a large upper rim, a supporting spider having a central ring and spokes radiating therefrom, and means on said radiating spokes for engag ing said upper rim to center said spider ring with respect to said upper rim and to support said spider ring therefrom; in combination with a lamp shade frame comprising a central abutment ring, struts radiating from said shade abutment ring, and a circumferential shade mate rial ring secured to the ends of said spokes; said lamp shade frame being superimposed above said supporting spider with said shade abutment ring in alignment with said central spider ring, a stud passing through said aligned rings, a finial screwed onto the top of said stud above said lamp shade abutment ring to secure said lamp shade frame to said supporting spider, and means coopcrating with said spider for adjusting the height ofsaid lamp shade abutment ring above said upper rim.

9. For use with a lamp base having a reflector flaring upwardly and outwardly to a large upper rim, a frame comprising a continuous integral ring of a diameter large enough to overlie said large reflector n'm, said frame comprising portions depending from said large continuous integral ring for centering the same with respect to said large reflector rim to support said ring on said rim, and a spider having a central ring and radial spokes having integral depending portions, the central ring of said spider being of a diameter small enough to receive a stud for securing thereto the central abutment ring of a lamp shade, and means for securing said spider spoke portions '7 in vertically slidable relation to said centering portions depending from said ring whereby said spider may be .raised and lowered with respect to said reflector rim.

10. A frame comprising a supported ring and an abut' ment ring arranged in concentric relation, and struts spaced around and connecting said rings; said struts comprising a set of abutment ring portions each having a fixed end rigidly and permanently secured to said abutment ring to form a rigid abutment unit and a free end extending toward said supported ring, and a set of supported ring portions each having a fixed end rigidly and permanently secured to said supporting ring to form a rigid supporting unit relatively movable with respect to said abutment unit and a free end extending toward said abutment ring, the free ends of said sets of strut portions being arranged in spaced-apart parallel overlapping relation; and sheet metal connectors rigidly and permanently mounted on the free ends of the set of strut portions secured to one of said concentric rings to form a part of its rigid unit, said connectors having sockets adapted to receive relatively movably therein the spaced-apart parallel overlapping free ends of the other set of strut portions secured to the other of said concentric rings forming the other relatively movable rigid unit and thereby permit bodily movement of said rigid uni-ts relative to each other.

11. A frame as claimed in claim 10, in which said connectors each comprise a central tubular portion having one end ofiset with respect to its socket to clear the same and facilitate spot welding.

12. A frame as claimed in claim 10, in which said connectors each comprise a central tubular portion having one end part offset longitudinally with respect to its socket and enlarged to form a funnel-like guide for directing the strut portion on which it is mounted into a wedge fit with the remainder of said tubular portion.

13. A frame comprising an upper supported ring and a lower abutment ring arranged in concentric relation, and struts spaced around and connecting said rings, said struts comprising a set of lower wires having fixed ends secured to said'lower abutment ring and extending upwardly, and a complementary set of upper wires secured to said upper supported ring and extending downwardly in overlapping relation with said lower abutment ring wires, and sheet metal clips having central tubular portions substantially surrounding and respectively rigidly and permanently secured to one set of said wires and having side flanges forming spring jaws cooperating to form therebetween a socket parallel to said central tubul'ar portion receiving the other set of said wires in friotionally slidable relation to permit vertical adjustment of the height of said upper supported ring above said lower abutment ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,613 Andersen June 7, 1927 1,699,664 Hill et al. Jan. 22, 1929 2,321,288 Finkel June 8, 1943 2,392,324 Krebeck Ian. 8, 1946 2,483,354 Stilfel Sept. 27, 1949 2,650,294 Berger Aug. 25, 1953 2,677,756 Priester May 4, 1954 2,745,002 Hofimann May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,965 Great Britain 1879 1,072,877 France Mar. 17, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Publication of the Chilo Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Illinois, Lamp and Shade Fittings, Tools, Dies, Special Machinery, Screw Machine Work, Bulletin No. 35, February 3, 1936. 

